Wilson was one of the club's original signings and moved over to Sydney from Mandurah, south of Perth, as a 17-year-old five years ago. But whereas some of the club's other early listed players, including Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Jeremy Cameron, have established themselves as regular senior performers, Wilson has been held back by injuries and struggled for consistency across his 23 career games.

After playing in the side from round two this season until the big loss to West Coast in round five, Wilson went back to the reserves and again proved himself to the coaching staff.

The naturally gifted athlete was called up in the absence of tall defender Nick Haynes, who has a groin injury.

"They're incredible football players and everyone wants to be like them," Wilson said of some of his colleagues who have pushed on. "But you've got to do your time. I've had games here and there, this is going to be my fifth game out of 10 this year, so I think I'm going well.

"I had a few things to work on this season, just some one-on-one stuff, beating my man first and then run-off kind of things. I went back to the NEAFL for the last few weeks which was good because the boys in the NEAFL have been playing really good footy. It's been hard for spots in the ones but it's great to be back. I can't wait to get back out there."

Coach Leon Cameron said Wilson's reserves form had demanded selection.

"He's been in really good form on the half-back flank ... for probably three or four weeks," Cameron said. "He was a little bit stiff to go out of the team, he played some pretty good footy and was sub for a couple of weeks.

"Spots are really tight. It was one of those positions where you could pick Nathan, you could look at Zac Williams, you could look at Curtly Hampton. In the end Nathan got the call-up."

It's a notable time for the 22-year-old to return, as the team will wear the jersey it wore during last week's Indigenous round. The Giants have the fourth-highest number of Indigenous players on their list, with six, behind Fremantle, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, but none featured last week.

"It's a great opportunity for myself to play and wear the jumper," he said. "I spoke to mum about it last night and she said it was good that I got to wear it. The NEAFL boys are getting to wear it too. It means a lot."

It is another sort of homecoming for Wilson, who admits moving across the country as a youngster was "real hard".

"I was really homesick but the club were really helpful for me," he said.

He lives with ruckman Andrew Phillips – "He's interesting. He's from Tassie, they're all interesting" – and worked closely early on with Josh Hunt and, more recently, has linked with former Collingwood defender Heath Shaw, who has taught him plenty about the art of defending.

The Giants are looking to rebound after a terrible loss to the Western Bulldogs last round, while Brisbane are depleted by injuries after their loss to St Kilda. It is the Lions' first visit to Spotless Stadium.